Scorer: Ferguson (50)
A second half strike from Alex Ferguson lifted Forfar Athletic off the bottom of the League Two table.
Stranraer came into the game full of confidence after a victory over East Fife seven days earlier.
Chris Aitken made one change from that winning side as Matty Grant came into the starting line-up in place of Elliot Dunlop.
In truth, it was a first half that is unlikely to live long in the memory of fans, with neither team really creating anything in the opening half an hour.
Instead, the closing 10 minutes of the first half contained all of the opportunities.
First to threaten were the visitors after Lewis Reid lost possession in the Stranraer half.
Forfar got the cross in and Josh Skelly must have thought he had scored only for his goalbound shot to be blocked by Craig Ross.
Immediately, Stranraer raced up the park and it took a fine save from Marc McCallum to keep the scores blank.
Grant cut in from the left and beat two defenders but the goalkeeper was equal to his powerful drive and pushed it to safety.
Then, both sides had a headed chance before the break.
Russell McLean’s header was too close to Sam Kane and then Aaron Quigg nodded a looping header over the crossbar from a Grant corner.
It was looking as if the first goal was going to be vital and so it proved when it arrived five minutes after the restart.
Stranraer could not get the ball clear and Ferguson brought it down outside the box.
He found a yard of space and then drove the ball high into the net from 18 yards.
It was a goal that gave the visitors confidence and they twice came close with two quickfire chances.
First, Craig Slater’s drive almost slipped through the hands of Kane but the goalkeeper got enough on it to divert the ball over the crossbar.
Then, from the corner, McLean again found himself denied as the goalkeeper got down low to push the ball to safety.
The best chance though would fall to Bradley Rodden just after the hour mark.
The frontman blocked Finn Ecrepont’s attempted clearance and found himself sprinting through on goal from near the centre circle.
Fortunately, with only Kane to beat, the Forfar man blasted his shot well off target.
Stranraer had created very little in the second half and it took until stoppage time for them to call McCallum into action again.
Robbie Foster raced onto a long ball but the experienced goalkeeper managed to make the block and then Max Guthrie could not turn home the rebound.
Now, Stranraer will need to turn their attention to Clyde, who visit Stair Park on Saturday.
Stranraer: Kane, Robertson (Brindley 46), Ross, Hawkshaw, Quigg, McKnight (Russell 60), Ecrepont, Grant (Dunlop 72), Lang (Foster 72), Edgar (Guthrie 60), Reid.
Not used: Docherty and Lane.
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Logan, Sweenie-Rowe, Morrison, Allan, Skelly (MacLean 71), McLean (Robson 81), McAllister (Cannon 71), Slater (Whatley 90), Rodden, Ferguson.
Not used: Inglis, Denholm, Young, Lemon and Paris.
Referee: Daniel Graves
Attendance: 496
HT: 0-0
